Spike-puller.



PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

' R. A. BRADSHAW.

SPIKE PULLBR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4. 1907- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R3.1 i :3a v//xQD' RICHARD A. BRADSHAW, OF WIN TERS, TEXAS.

SPIKE-PULLER.

I No. 882,449.

Specfication of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed June 4, 1907. Serial No. 377,219.

To all whom 'it may coace'ra:

Be it known that I, RICHARD A. BRAD- sHAw, citizen of the United States,residing at Winters, in the county of Runnels and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Im rovements in Spike-Pullers, of whichthe fo lowing is a specification.

The resent invention relates to certain new an useful improvements inspike pullers and resides rinci ally in the provision of novel means orho ding the spike in engagement with the claws of lthe head.

The invention'also contemplates a spike puller which is mounted upon aroller so that the fulcrum can be moved inwardly as the spike isextracted, thereby preventing mutilation of the spike and decreasing theamount of power required for pulling the same.

The primary object of the' invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive spike puller embodying the above mentioned features, and onewhich will operate efliciently under various conditions of service.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means foreffecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the pplication of the improvedspike puller.

lg. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is adetail view of the guard arm. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional viewthrough the head. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the claws on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Specifically describing the invention the numeral 1 designates thehandle or lever which is of the usual construction, and 2 the head atthe lower end of the lever. This head 2 has a curved formation and hasthe extremity thereof enlarged laterally to a slight extent and rovidedwith the claws 3 for engaging the ead of the spike or like member belngextracted. It will be observed that the upper face of each of the claws3 has the inner portion thereof serrated or roughened as indicated at 4to prevent slipping of the spike, while the outer side is formed with anupwardly extending guard flange 5. The intermediate portion of the head2 has a slot or recess 6 formed therein within which the roller 7 is journaled. This roller 7 is designed to constitute the fulcrum of theimplement and perinits the spike puller to be moved inwardly as thespike is extracted for the purpose of shifting the fulcruin point andpreventing the spike from being deflected to one side which not onlybends and mutilates the spike but also greatly increases the amount ofpower required in ulling the same.

A guarcfarin 8 is utilized to retain the spike in engagemont with theclaws 3, one end of the guard arm having a yielding connection with thelower extremity of the lever 1 while the opposite end is formed with ahook 9 which engages the head of the spike being operated upon. arm S isbifurcated and the two members 10 of the bifurcation are loosely mountedupon opposite sides of the lever 1 and operate to prevent the lateraldisplacement of the guard arm. A bracket 11 is provided upon the innerend of the guard arm 8 and has a pivotal connection with a stem 12passing looselj)T through a keeper 13 upon the lower end of the lever 1.Encircling the end portion of the stem 12 is a spiral spring 14 one endof which bears against a washer 15 placed against the bracket 11 whilethe opposite end bears against a nut 16 at the extremity of the stem 12.This spring 111 operates to draw the guard arm S inwardly and hold thehook 9 in engagement with the head of the spike, but at the same timepermits yielding of the members which would prevent injury to theimplement should at any time an excessive force be applied thereto.

In the 'operation of the tool the hook 9 upon the guard arm 8 is placedin engagement with one side of the spike head and the claws 3 movedagainst the opposite side of the spike head. A downward pressure uponthe lever 1 then operates in the usual manner to withdraw the spike andas the spike is extractcd the head is gradually moved inwardly upon theroller 7 in order to shift the fulcrum point and always have a directupward pull upon the spike.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: i

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a lever, ahead at one end of the lever provided with a claw, a guard armcoperating with the claw, and a stemconnecting` the guard arm and head.the

The inner end of the guard' said stem being pivotally connected to oneof the members and having a yielding connection with the oppositemember.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a lever, ahead at one end of the lever provided With a claw, a guard armcoperating With the claW, a stem connecting the guard arm and head andpivotally connected to one of the members, a keeper upon the oppositemember loosely receiving the stem, and a spring surrounding the stem andcoperating With the keeper to hold the guard arm in an operativeposition.

3. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a lever, a head at one end of the lever provided Witha claw,` and a guard arm coperating With the claW and having a yieldingconnection With the head,

one end of the guard arm being bifurcated and the arms of thebifurcation fitting upon opposite sides of the head.

4. In a device of the character described,`

the combination of a lever, a head at one end of the lever provided witha claw, a guard arm coperating With the claW and having an end thereofbifurcated to receive the head, and a stem connecting the head and claw,the said stem having a pivotal connection With one of the members and ayielding connection With the opposite member. In testimony Whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

RICHARD A. BRADSHAW. L. 8.] Vitnesses J osIAH HooD, J. V. DAvIs.

